Jules ShermanHealthcare product design & research since 2012

Physical Product · 2018

Clogged Milk Duct Relief

A series of heated breast massagers for lactating women with clogged milk ducts.

The breast massager designs together on a black ground, in lavender and white: a round body with four steel massage balls shown beside the same body with its ball sockets empty, an egg form, a knob, a wide disc with a raised center, a paddle with six massage balls and a button on its handle, and a pear-shaped body with a button.
A leading breast pump company | 2018

Opportunity

A leading breast pump company asked me to design a series of breast massagers for lactating women with clogged milk ducts.

Process

  1. Sketches of three massager forms, each with a ball end and a pointier end.
  2. Clay model of the knob form, held by its handle.
  3. Clay model of the paddle form.
  4. Clay model of the pebble form.
  5. Clay model of the bowl form, with one ball in its center.
  6. Dimensioned 3D model of design F.
  7. Dimensioned 3D model of design F3.
  8. Dimensioned 3D model of design H1.
  9. Rendering of the knob design from above.
  10. Rendering of the knob design from the side, showing the massage balls underneath.
  11. Rendering of the paddle design, with six massage balls.
  12. Rendering of the pebble design.
  13. Rendering of the bowl design, with one massage ball in its center.
  14. Rendering of the designs together.

Design & Testing

I started with sketches. Then I shaped each form in Sculpey clay, so I could work out the form and where the massage balls should sit.

I tested the clay models with lactating women to find which form factors gave them relief.

Final Product

The series has four designs. Every design heats to a specific temperature and charges with a USB cord.